The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-23
THE SHAM OF 1T.

Some writer lately spoke of this as the
golden age One must have keen insight
into the meaning of various modern phenom-
ena and an optimistic faith in the theory that
the world constantly advances morally and
intellectually, not to regard it age of
tinsel, of show, and sham, and cheap imita-
tons. From the building of our houses. and
the making of our apparel, through all the
affairs of life to very religion an
element of pretension, a lack of genuineness
The houses are painted in bright and tawdry
hues, to catch the eye, but the carpenter
hangs the doors awry and builds the walls out
of plumb. Our garments are made of costly
material and fashionable cut, but the material
proves to be shoddy and the ill-sewed seams
gape while yet new. Artisans of all classes
finish their work for show and not for durabil-
ity; an attractive appearance for their prodac-
tons is apparently the chief essential. The
conscientious workman finds himself at dis
advantage; while he is laboring slowly for
lasting results the public contents itself with
the hasty workmanship of his competitors.
Everywhere the tendency to accept the
glitter for the substance is noticeable. The
President of the Nation travels across the
country and is greeted by curious crowds, as
IL he were in truth great captain, instead of
an accident of politics; to him the receptions
are doubtless gratifying as if he were
genuine leader of men in triumphal process
sion, and possibly the public which has salts
6ed its curiosity is equally well pleased with
the imitation.
Even in literature it is the spurious that
gains popular favor. An English 'dime-
noyelsts" wildly improbable and inartistic
tales are accepted seriously, and the writer
reaps wealth and fame, while producers Of
better literature than "She" is acquainted
with or than is contained in "Solomon's
Mines languish in obscurity. The American
public does not contribute much, it is true, 20
the wealth of this particular writer, since his
books which it reads are "pirated;" but this
is merely another development of the ten
dency towards fraud. In our pleasures, too,
we accept the counterfeit An English soci-
ETY. woman, with damaged reputation and
no histrionic talent, goes upon the stage to
recruit her fallen fortunes, and the theater-
going public follows after her, pours money
into her purse and talks Of her progress in
art" An American woman in fashionable
life, whose husbands income does not meet
her luxurious requirements, spends a few
weeks abroad, and, with such qualifications
as Worth and unlimited vanity supply her,
comes back to ''present the drama" to her
admiring country people. That her fellow
citizens ready to receive the lady at her
own estimate is shown by respectful refer
enoe to her as an actress and by the very tell
ing fact, announced by telegraph, that the
amount realized from the sale of seats for her
first nights performance was eleven thousand
dollars. Why should writers endeavor to
produce permanent literature or actresses de-
vote years to study when there is such
cheap and easy road to success, as success is
rated in these daysi
We even run after charlatans and mounte-
banks to supply our spiritual needs; but this,
perhaps, is not due so much to our own
frivolity as to the fact that the husks fur
nished by our legitimate shepherds have Gre
ated hunger which will only be appeased by
the substance, and we grasp eagerly at the
false doctrine hoping it is genuine.
Possibly the millennium is on the way, or
it may be that
Thine will run back and fetch the age of gold"
but as it looks now we are long way from
that happy day of primeval simplicity and
purity Of life.